Golf club shaft and grip and method for gripping golf club

ABSTRACT

An improved golf club shaft comprising a plurality of alternating circular and rectangular cross-sections extending from a top end of the shaft toward a club head and a corresponding grip which closely follows the alternating cross-sectional contour of the shaft. The rectangular cross-sections allow the shaft of the golf club to fit between chosen fingers on either hand of a golfer, thus stiffening the golfer&#39;s grip on the club without creating additional tension in the golfer&#39;s arms, which can cause extraneous motion. Improved golf club shaft grips, employing the alternating cross-sectional area system as disclosed for the improved shaft are attachable to conventional golf club shafts for a golfer&#39;s use. An improved method for holding a golf club, conventional or as taught herein, to provide additional stability to a golfer during a golf swing is also taught.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved golf club shaft andgrip and an improved method of gripping a golf club.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Golf is a recreational and competitive sport that is a popularwith large numbers of people of all ages. One of the skills necessary toplay the sport well is the ability to maintain control of the golf clubbefore, during, and after swinging the club to contact the golf ball.This skill is particularly important when putting. Many golfers,however, struggle to maintain the proper attitude of the golf clubduring the swing when using a conventional grip. Thus, the golf clubstrikes the golf ball at an incorrect angle, causing the golf ball totravel in an undesirable direction.

[0003] Attempts to prevent such extraneous motion of a golf club duringa golf swing have included wrist braces intended to prevent movement ofthe wrist, thereby preventing corresponding movement of the golf club.

[0004] For putters, in particular, various means to better control thegolf club during a golf swing have been put forth. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 3,679,207, discloses the construction of a golf putter thatallows the golfer to use a type of croquet stance instead of theconventional golf stance. The shaft of the patented club is considerablylonger than a conventional putter and is used by gripping the club atthe end of the shaft with one hand while gripping the shaft at thecenter of balance with the other hand, thus creating a type of fulcrumeffect to prevent extraneous motion of the club. Other inventions, suchas U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,552, and D201,250, disclose extending the shaftof a golf club above a central grip, resulting in the club havingapproximately the same weight above as below the grip position. Suchcounter-weighting is also thought to control extraneous motion of theclub during a swing.

[0005] While these approaches may be effective, they do not address avery important aspect of controlling extraneous motion of a golf clubbeing swung: the manner in which the golf club is gripped by a golfer.There is a desire, then, for a golf club providing an improved grip andmethod for gripping a golf club that controls such undesired motion.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The improved golf club shaft and grip and method for gripping agolf club of the present invention proposes to provide golfer with golfclub having a club head attached to a shaft via a hosel, wherein theshaft comprises a plurality of alternating circular and rectangularcross-sections extending from the top end of the shaft (opposite thehosel). A grip covering a portion of the shaft, closely follows thealternating cross-sectional contour of the shaft. The rectangularcross-sections allow the shaft of the golf club to fit between chosenfingers on either hand of a golfer, thus stiffening the golfer's grip onthe club without creating additional tension in the golfer's arms, whichcan cause extraneous motion. Further, such a grip allows the golfer'swrists to remain aligned with the hands, again providing a morecontrolled grip and, subsequently, swing of the golf club.

[0007] The present invention also provides different grip configurationsthat can be mounted on conventional golf club shafts. These gripconfigurations provide various locations at which a golfer may grip thegolf club shaft during a golf swing.

[0008] The present invention also teaches a method for holding a golfclub on which a preferred embodiment of the shaft and/or grip are used,the method providing additional stability during the swing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] Further features, embodiments, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionwith reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club according to one ofthe preferred embodiments of the present invention, illustrating agolfer with the golf club in preparation of swinging the golf club;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the shape of a preferredembodiment of the golf club shaft and grip;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a magnification of an area of FIG. 2, illustrating thetransition between club shaft and grip profiles;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the golf club of FIG. 2, taken alongthe line 4-4, illustrating one profile of the club shaft and grip;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the golf club of FIG. 2, taken alongthe line 5-5, illustrating a second profile of the club shaft and grip;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the golf club of FIG. 2,illustrating the profiles of the club shaft and grip;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a side elevation, illustrating a golf club havingconventional shaft and grip profiles;

[0017]FIG. 8 shows a golf club shaft similar to that in FIG. 7,illustrating an embodiment of a grip of the present inventionsurrounding the club shaft;

[0018]FIG. 9 shows a golf club shaft similar to that in FIG. 7,illustrating another embodiment of a grip of the present inventionsurrounding the club shaft;

[0019]FIG. 10 shows a golf club shaft similar to that in FIG. 7,illustrating another embodiment of a grip of the present inventionsurrounding the club shaft;

[0020]FIG. 11 shows a golf club shaft similar to that in FIG. 7,illustrating another embodiment of a grip of the present inventionsurrounding the club shaft;

[0021]FIG. 12 shows a golf club shaft similar to that in FIG. 7,illustrating another embodiment of a grip of the present inventionsurrounding the club shaft;

[0022] FIGS. 13-16 are a series of partial perspective views of a golfclub shaft according to one of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, illustrating a method of gripping a golf club shaft accordingto one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 17 shows a golf club shaft similar to that in FIG. 13,illustrating another embodiment of a method a gripping a golf clubshaft;

[0024]FIG. 18 shows a golf club shaft similar to that in FIG. 13,illustrating another embodiment of a method a gripping a golf clubshaft;

[0025]FIG. 19 shows a golf club shaft similar to that in FIG. 13,illustrating another embodiment of a method a gripping a golf clubshaft;

[0026] FIGS. 20-21 are a series of partial perspective views of a golfclub shaft according to one of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, illustrating a method of gripping a golf club shaft accordingto one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

[0027] FIGS. 22-24 are a series of partial perspective views of aconventional golf club shaft, illustrating a method of gripping a golfclub shaft according to one of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention; and

[0028]FIG. 25 is a cross-section of the golf club similar to that inFIG. 5, illustrating placement of fingers about a golf club shaft usinga method of gripping a golf club shaft according to one of the preferredembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0029] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like components areidentified by similar numbers, a preferred embodiment of the improvedgolf club shaft and grip are shown in FIGS. 1-12. As illustrated in FIG.7, a typical golf club 75 comprises a head 45, a hosel 55 and a shaft65. The shaft 65 has a top end 67 and a bottom end 69. The bottom end 69of the shaft 65 is attached to the hosel 55. The club head 45 isattached to the hosel 55 opposite the shaft 65. A grip 85 surrounds aportion of the shaft 65, generally starting at the top end 67 of theshaft 65 and extending along the shaft 65 to a position intermediate thetop end 67 and the bottom end 69 of the shaft 65. As shown in FIG. 1, agolfer 25 typically holds the golf club 75 by grasping the golf club 75at the grip 185.

[0030] The club shaft 165 shown in FIGS. 1-6 comprises three parts: anupper part U, a lower part B and a middle part M intermediate that upperand lower parts U, B. The upper and lower parts U, B comprise cylindershaving circular cross-sections of a defined and uniform diameter. Themiddle part M of the shaft 165 comprises a plurality of alternatingrectangular 165 b and circular 165 a and cross-sectional areas. Thecircular cross-sections 165 a are uniformly cylindrical and have thesame diameter as that of the upper and lower parts U, B of the shaft165. The rectangular cross-sections 165 b have a length L, a width W anda height H. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the length L of the rectangularcross-sections 165 b is approximately the same as the diameter of thecircular cross-sections 165 a. The width W of the rectangularcross-sections 165 b is less than the length L. Further, the width W andthe height H of the rectangular cross-sections 165 b are of a size toallow a golfer to easily position the rectangular cross-sections 165 bbetween two fingers, as shown in FIG. 25. The grip 185 covers the upperpart U, the middle part M, and a portion of the lower part B of theshaft 165, as shown in FIGS. 2-6. Within the middle part M of the shaft165, the grip 185 has a convex profile relative to the circularcross-sectional areas 165 a. Such a profile allows the portions of thegrip 185 covering the circular cross-sectional areas 165 a in the middlepart M of the shaft 165 to have the same outer diameter as the portionsof the grip 185 covering the upper part U and the portion of the lowerpart B, hence providing a familiar gripping area for the golfer. Asillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the portions of the grip 185 covering therectangular cross-sectional areas 165 b of the middle part M of theshaft 165 are less dense than those portions of the grip 185 coveringthe circular cross-sectional areas 165 a. This lack of density providesa level of comfort and security to the golfer without impeding theplacement of the rectangular cross-sectional areas 165 b between twofingers of the golfer's hand, as shown in FIG. 25.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, transitions between the circularcross-sectional areas 165 a and the rectangular cross-sectional areas165 b of the middle part M and the transitions between the upper U andlower B parts with the middle part M may be conical shaped to preventexcessive wear or abrasion at the transitions.

[0032]FIG. 7, as discussed above, illustrates and typical golf club 75with a shaft 65 and grip 85. In other preferred embodiments, asillustrated in FIGS. 8-11, the shaft 65 (as shown in FIG. 7) maintains auniform, cylindrical, shape from the top end 67 to the bottom end 69while the grip 85 changes contour. In FIGS. 8-11, the grip 285, 385,485, 585 comprises a first part 287, 387, 487, 587 and a second part289, 389, 489, 589. The first parts 287, 387, 487, 587 of each grip 285,385, 485, 585 comprise a contour similar to a conventional grip of agolf club 75, as shown in FIG. 7. The second parts 289, 389, 489, 589 ofeach grip 285, 385, 485, 585 comprises at least one contoured areahaving a profile different than that of a conventional grip.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 8, the first part 287 of the grip 285 covers theshaft 65 starting at the top end 67 and extending to abut the secondpart 289 of the grip 285. The second part 289 of the grip 285 extendsbetween the abutting-first part 287 and the bottom end 69 of the shaft65. The second part 289 of the grip is convex.

[0034]FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate grips 385, 485 in which the second parts389, 489 each has a conventional portion 389 a, 489 a and a protrudingportion 389 b, 489 b. In FIG. 9, the conventional portion 389 a of thesecond part 389 is located intermediate the first part 387 of the grip385 and the protruding portion 389 b of the second part 389 of the grip385. The protruding portion 389 b surrounds the shaft 65 in a uniform,geometric shape. In FIG. 9, the protruding portion 389 b resembles avertical hexagonal.

[0035] In FIG. 10, the protruding portion 489 b is intermediate theconventional portion 489 a of the second part 489 and the first part 487of the grip 485. The protruding portion 489 b surrounds the shaft 65 ina uniform, geometric shape. In FIG. 10, the protruding portion 489 b isconvex.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 11, the second part 589 b of the grip 585 mayinclude multiple contours. The first part 587 of the grip 585 extendsfrom the top end 67 of the shaft 65 to abutting proximity to the secondpart 589. The second part 589 extends from a terminus of the first part587 toward the bottom end 69 of the shaft 65. The second part comprisesprotruding portions 589 b connected by a short conventional portion 589a. The protruding portions 589 b may be the same or different shapes. InFIG. 11, the protruding portions 589 b are the same shape. Further, theprotruding portions 589 b may be of any geometric shape. In FIG. 11, theprotruding portions 589 b are barrel shaped.

[0037]FIG. 12 illustrates a preferred embodiment combining elements ofthe contoured golf club shaft 665 as shown in FIGS. 1-6, and of thecontoured grip 685, as shown in FIG. 8. The shaft 665 comprises threesections: an upper section U and a lower section B, both of which have aconventionally cylindrical shape; and a middle section M intermediatethe upper and lower sections U, B of the shaft 665. The middle section Mof is cylindrically shaped with a circular cross-section having adiameter between about 0.25 and 0.5 that of the diameter of the upperand lower sections U, B. Transitions between the sections may be abruptor gradual. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the transition between the uppersection U and the middle section M is substantially an abrupt,square-edged demarcation, while the transition between the middlesection M and the lower section B is a gradual, conically shapedtransition. The grip 685 comprises a first part 687 and a second part689. The first part 687 comprises a contour similar to a conventionalgrip of a golf club 75, as shown in FIG. 7. The second part 689 of thegrip 685 comprises at least one contoured area having a profiledifferent than that of a conventional grip. As shown in FIG. 12, thefirst part 687 of the grip 685 covers the shaft 665 starting at the topend 667 and extending to abutting engagement with the second part 689.The second part 689 of the grip 685 extends between the abutting firstpart 687 and the bottom end 669 of the shaft 665. The second part 689 ofthe grip 665 may have any geometric shape. The second part 689 of thegrip 665 shown in FIG. 12 is convex.

[0038] FIGS. 13-18 illustrate a preferred method for gripping the golfclub 75 shown in FIGS. 1-6. The golfer 25 first positions the golf club75 with the head 45 of the golf club 75 adjacent to a striking surface(e.g., a greens area on a golf course) and a golf ball 35 andperpendicular to the golfer 25, as shown in FIG. 1. The golfer 25positions a first hand 27 in proximity to the golf club 75, fingers ofthe first hand 27 oriented toward one of the rectangular cross-sectionalareas 165 b of the shaft covered by and identified by the correspondinggrip 185 b, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The golfer then inserts therectangular cross-sectional area 185 b of the shaft 165 between twofingers of the first hand 27, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 25. Asshown in FIGS. 14, 16 and 17, the rectangular cross-sectional area 185 bof the shaft 165 is insertable between any two fingers of the firsthand: between index and middle fingers (FIG. 14); between middle andring fingers (FIG. 16); and between ring and little fingers (FIG. 17).

[0039] Once the shaft 165 is properly positioned between fingers of thefirst hand 27, the fingers of the first hand are closed about the shaft165, enclosing the shaft 165 within a fist made of the first hand 27, asshown in FIG. 14. Fingers of a second hand 29 are wrapped around theshaft 165, at least partially overlapping the first hand 27. A thumb ofthe first hand 27 may be covered by the second hand 29 or situated atopthe second hand 29 after the second hand 29 is wrapped around the shaft,as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 18. Once the first and second hands 27,29 are properly positioned, the golfer 25 may address the golf ball 35,as shown in FIG. 1, and prepare for swinging the golf club 75.

[0040] Another embodiment of the method described above is shown in FIG.19, wherein the shaft 165 is positioned between fingers of the firsthand 27 and of the second hand 29. The first and second hands 27, 29 mayeither utilize the same rectangular cross-sectional area 185 b(illustrated in FIG. 19), or different rectangular cross-sectional areas185 b. After properly positioning the shaft between fingers of bothhands, the first and second hands 27, 29 are closed about the shaft 165,completing the gripping method.

[0041] Another embodiment of the method of gripping a golf club isillustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, wherein the first hand 27 is positionedas discussed above and illustrated in FIGS. 13-18. The second hand 29 isclosed about the shaft 165 at a position spaced apart from the firsthand 27. Preferably, the second hand 29 is positioned intermediate thefirst hand 27 and the top end 67 of the shaft 165.

[0042] A feature of the method as described above is illustrated inFIGS. 22-24, wherein any of the above grips is employed with aconventional golf club (shown in FIG. 7).

[0043] It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilledin the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utilityand application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the presentinvention other than those herein described, as well as many variations,modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from orreasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoingdescription thereof, without departing from the substance or scope ofthe present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has beendescribed herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, itis to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative andexemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes ofproviding a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoingdisclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the presentinvention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments,adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, thepresent invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto andthe equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf club having a club head attached to ashaft via a hosel, the shaft having a top end and a bottom end, thebottom end being attachable to the hosel, the shaft comprising: an uppersection, a lower section and a middle section intermediate the upper andlower sections, the upper section extending from the top end of theshaft to one end of the middle section, the lower section extending fromthe bottom end of the shaft to an end of the middle section opposite theupper section, the upper and lower sections having circularcross-sections approximating a conventional golf club shaft, the middlesection of the shaft having a plurality of alternating rectangular andcircular cross-sections extending therethrough, the circular crosssections approximating the cross sections of the upper and lowersections of the shaft, the rectangular cross-sections having a length, awidth, and a height, the length of the rectangular cross sections beinggreater that the width, the width and height of the rectangular crosssections being sufficient to insert said rectangular cross sectionsbetween fingers of at least one hand of a golfer, and wherein the lengthof the rectangular cross sections is approximately the same as adiameter of the circular cross-sections of the middle section, and agrip adjacent to and surrounding a portion of the shaft, the grip havinga first grip portion extending from the top end of the shaft to themiddle section of the shaft, a second grip portion extending over themiddle section, and a third grip portion cover a part of the lowersection extending from the middle portion toward the bottom end of theshaft, the first grip portion having a generally cylindricalcross-section, the second portion of the grip comprising correspondingalternating rectangular and circular cross sections, the circular crosssections being convex along each length of the circular cross sectionsof the shaft, the rectangular cross sections of the grip correspondingto the rectangular cross sections of the shaft, and the third portion ofthe grip being convex relative to the lower section of the shaft.
 2. Agolf club according to claim 1, wherein the rectangular cross sectionsof the grip corresponding to the rectangular cross sections of the shaftare positioned such that the length of the cross sections are orientedperpendicular to the club head.
 3. A golf club according to claim 1,wherein the diameter of the convex shaped portions of the grip isgreater than the length of the rectangular cross sections of the grip.4. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein the width and the height ofthe rectangular cross sections of the grip and shaft are of a sufficientsize for a golfer to position at least one finger along each length ofat least one of the rectangular cross sections of the grip and shaft. 5.On a golf club having a head attached to a bottom end of a shaft, theshaft having a top end opposite the bottom end, a grip comprising a tubeextending from the top end of the shaft toward a terminating positionintermediate the top and bottom ends of the shaft, the tube having aninner diameter sufficiently sized to insert the shaft therethrough, thetube also having a first end proximate to the top end of the shaft and asecond end at the terminating position, the grip further comprising anouter surface having a contoured area, said contour being relative to alongitudinal axis of the grip intermediate the first and second ends. 6.The grip according to claim 5, wherein the outer surface comprises afirst contour section and a second contour section, the first contoursection extending from the first end of the grip to a transition pointbetween the first and second contour sections, the second contoursection extending from the transition point to the second end of thegrip.
 7. The grip according to claim 6, wherein the first contoursection of the outer surface is cylindrical.
 8. The grip according toclaim 7, wherein the second contour section of the outer surface is anextension of the first contour section of the outer surface.
 9. The gripaccording to claim 7, wherein the second contour section of the outersurface is convex.
 10. The grip according to claim 7, wherein the secondcontour section of the outer surface has a first part and a second part,the first part extending from the transition point and the second partextending from the first part to the second end of the grip, the firstpart having an outer surface contour approximating the first contoursection of the grip, the second part having a geometric shape with anouter diameter greater than an outer diameter of the first part.
 11. Thegrip according to claim 7, wherein the second contour section of theouter surface has a first part and a second part, the first partextending from the transition point and the second part extending fromthe first part to the second end of the grip, the first part beingconvex, the second part approximating the first contour section of thegrip.
 12. The grip according to claim 7, wherein the second contoursection of the outer surface has a first part, a second part and a thirdpart, the first part extending from the transition point to the secondpart, the second portion extending to the third part, and the third partextending to the second end of the grip, the first and third parts beingconvex with a defined diameter, the second part approximating the firstcontour section of the grip.
 13. The grip according to claim 12, whereinthe second part of the second contour section of the grip has an outerdiameter sufficiently sized such that the second part is insertablebetween fingers of a golfer for establishing a hold on the golf club.14. A method of gripping a golf club, said club having a head attachedto one end of a shaft, the head generally perpendicular to the shaft,the shaft having a longitudinal axis extending upwardly from the head toa top end of the shaft, the shaft manipulatable by a golfer, the methodcomprising the steps: orienting a controlling hand perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft and perpendicular to the head; placingthe shaft between two fingers of the controlling hand; closing thecontrolling hand about the shaft, the shaft resting upon a portion ofthe controlling hand opposite the fingers; and encircling the shaft witha guiding hand, the thumb of the guiding hand parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft, the guiding hand in verticalrelationship to the controlling hand relative to the longitudinal axisof the shaft.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the golferhas a left hand and a right hand, the left hand of the golfer being thecontrolling hand and the right hand of the golfer being the guidinghand.
 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the golfer has aright hand and a left hand, the right hand of the golfer being thecontrolling hand and the left hand of the golfer being the guiding hand.17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the locating stepcomprises placing the shaft between an index finger and a middle fingerof the controlling hand.
 18. The method according to claim 14, whereinthe locating step comprises placing the shaft between a middle fingerand a ring finger of the controlling hand.
 19. The method according toclaim 14, wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft betweena ring finger and a little finger of the controlling hand.
 20. Themethod according to claim 14, wherein the encircling step comprisesplacing the guidance hand on the shaft intermediate the controlling handand the top end of the shaft.
 21. The method according to claim 14,wherein the encircling step comprises placing the guidance hand on theshaft intermediate the controlling hand and the head of the club. 22.The method according to claim 14, wherein the enclosing step furthercomprises extending at least one finger of the guidance hand parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the shaft.
 23. The method according to claim22, wherein the at least one finger comprises an index finger.
 24. Amethod of gripping a golf club, said club having a head attached to oneend of a shaft, the head generally perpendicular to the shaft, the shafthaving a longitudinal axis extending upwardly from the head to a topend, the shaft manipulatable by a golfer, the method comprising thesteps: orienting a controlling hand parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe shaft and oriented in the direction of the head such that the shaftis intermediate the controlling hand and the head; placing the shaftbetween two fingers of the controlling hand; closing the controllinghand about the shaft, the shaft resting upon a palm of the controllinghand; and encircling the shaft with a guidance hand, a thumb of theguidance hand parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft andoriented toward the head of the club, the guidance hand in verticalrelationship to the controlling hand relative to the longitudinal axisof the shaft.
 25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the golferhas a left hand and a right hand, the left hand of the golfer being thecontrolling hand and the right hand of the golfer being the guidancehand.
 26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the golfer has aright hand and a left hand, the right hand of the golfer being thecontrolling hand and the left hand of the golfer being the guidancehand.
 27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the locating stepcomprises placing the shaft between an index finger and a middle fingerof the controlling hand.
 28. The method according to claim 24, whereinthe locating step comprises placing the shaft between a middle fingerand a ring finger of the controlling hand.
 29. The method according toclaim 24, wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft betweena ring finger and a little finger of the controlling hand.
 30. Themethod according to claim 24, wherein the encircling step comprisesplacing the guidance hand on the shaft intermediate the controlling handand the top end of the shaft.
 31. The method according to claim 24,wherein the encircling step comprises placing the guidance hand on theshaft intermediate the controlling hand and the head of the golf club.32. The method according to claim 24, wherein the enclosing step furthercomprises extending at least one finger of the guidance hand parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the shaft.
 33. The method according to claim32, wherein the at least one finger comprises an index finger.
 34. Amethod of gripping a golf club, said club having a head attached to oneend of a shaft, the head generally perpendicular to the shaft, the shafthaving a longitudinal axis extending upwardly from the head to a topend, the shaft being manipulated by a golfer, the method comprising thesteps: orienting a controlling hand perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the shaft and perpendicular to the head; placing the shaftbetween two fingers of the controlling hand; closing the controllinghand about the shaft, the shaft resting upon a portion of thecontrolling hand opposite the fingers; orienting a guidance handparallel to the controlling hand orientation relative to the shaft;placing the shaft between two fingers of the guidance hand; and closingthe guidance hand about the shaft, a thumb of the guidance hand parallelto the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the guidance hand is invertical relationship to the controlling hand relative to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft.
 35. The method according to claim 34,wherein the golfer has a right hand and a left hand, the left hand ofthe golfer being the controlling hand and the right hand of the golferbeing the guidance hand.
 36. The method according to claim 34, whereinthe golfer has a right hand and a left hand, the right hand of thegolfer being the controlling hand and the left hand of the golfer beingthe guiding hand.
 37. The method according to claim 34, wherein thelocating step comprises placing the shaft between an index finger and amiddle finger of the controlling hand.
 38. The method according to claim34, wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between amiddle finger and a ring finger of the controlling hand.
 39. The methodaccording to claim 34, wherein the locating step comprises placing theshaft between a ring finger and a little finger of the controlling hand.40. The method according to claim 34, wherein the encircling stepcomprises placing the guidance hand on the shaft intermediate thecontrolling hand and the top end of the shaft.
 41. The method accordingto claim 34, wherein the encircling step comprises placing the guidancehand on the shaft intermediate the controlling hand and the head of theclub.
 42. The method according to claim 34, wherein the enclosing stepfurther comprises extending at least one finger of the guidance handparallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
 43. The method accordingto claim 42, wherein the at least one finger comprises an index finger.